polyomavirus

polyomavirus
polyomavirus [päl΄ē ō′mə vī΄rəs]
n.
POLY- + -OMA
any of a genus (Polyomavirus) of papovaviruses that naturally infect wild and laboratory mice, and that cause tumors when injected into newborn mice

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      any of a subgroup of minute oncogenic DNA viruses of the family Papovaviridae.

      The virus was first isolated in 1953 when the murine polyomavirus was discovered to have caused tumours in laboratory mice. Since then the virus has been found in a wide variety of vertebrates, from green monkeys and baboons to cage birds (notably those of the parrot family, Psittacidae) and cows. Two rare human polyomaviruses were isolated in 1971 and are known as BK virus and JC virus. Infection with BK virus may cause mild respiratory disease, whereas infection with JC virus can affect the respiratory system, the kidneys, or the brain. JC virus is responsible for causing progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PMLE) in immunocompromised people.

      Another example of a polyomavirus is Simian vacuolating virus 40 (SV40), which can infect humans, rodents, and monkeys. In some cases, SV40 infection in humans may lead to the growth of malignant tumours.

      The polyomavirus is highly antigenic; i.e., all animals bearing its tumours also have virus-neutralizing antibodies in their blood. The virus is also capable of clumping red blood cells and affecting deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Polyomavirus — Systematik Reich: Viren Baltimore K. (dsDNA Viren) I Ordnung: N/A Familie: Polyomaviridae Gattung …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • polyomavirus — [päl΄ē ō′mə vī΄rəs] n. [ POLY + OMA] any of a genus (Polyomavirus) of papovaviruses that naturally infect wild and laboratory mice, and that cause tumors when injected into newborn mice …   English World dictionary

  • Polyomavirus — Polyomavirus,   eine Gattung der Papovaviren, deren Name Polyoma sich von der Eigenschaft, bei der Übertragung auf Versuchstiere in vielen verschiedenen Organen Tumoren erzeugen zu können, ableitet. In ihren natürlichen Wirten (Mensch, Affe,… …   Universal-Lexikon

  • Polyomavirus — Taxobox image size = 240px image caption = Transmission electron micrograph of polyomavirus SV40 virus group = i familia = Polyomaviridae genus = Polyomavirus subdivision ranks = Species subdivision = African green monkey polyomavirus Baboon… …   Wikipedia

  • Polyomavirus — Les polyomavirus font partie de la famille des Polyomaviridae[1]. Ce sont des virus dont le génome est constitué d ADN bicaténaire circulaire. Les trois virus principaux sont, chez le singe : le Simian virus 40 (SV40), et chez l humain  …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Polyomavirus — A genus of viruses (family Papovaviridae) containing DNA (MW 3 × 106), having virions about 45 nm in diameter, and including viruses oncogenic for animals; includes the polyoma virus of rodents, vacuolating viruses (SV40) of primates, and the BK… …   Medical dictionary

  • polyomavirus — noun Etymology: New Latin polyoma, from poly + oma Date: 1958 any of a family (Polyomaviridae) of double stranded DNA viruses that produce tumors in specific mammals called also polyoma …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • polyomavirus — A DNA tumour virus with very small genome (of the Papovaviridae). Polyoma was isolated from mice, in which it causes no obvious disease, but when injected at high titre into baby rodents, including mice, causes tumours of a wide variety of… …   Dictionary of molecular biology

  • polyomavirus — noun a papovavirus that induces a wide variety of tumours in newborn animals …   Wiktionary

  • Polyomavirus — Polyo̱|ma|virus [Kunstw.] s; , ..ren (meist Mehrz.): Virus, das in verschiedenen Organen und Geweben Tumoren hervorrufen kann …   Das Wörterbuch medizinischer Fachausdrücke

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